Anniversary Celebration in SD

We had a great time in San Diego last weekend with Julie and Carlton Jones.  Thanks to my good friend, Cameron, we stayed at a posh resort on Coronado for cheap!  It was so fun and we ate the ENTIRE time!  Our big dinner was at the Ruth's Chris on the bay.  It was delicious and romantic.  I also got my S'mores Mocha fix at Hash House a Go-Go.  Yummy!!  We did some shopping and unintentional sight-seeing.  (Got lost and ended up taking a "shortcut" through Balboa Park.  Beautiful detour!!)  We didn't have near enough time to do all of the things listed on Ralph's detailed itinerary, the most regretful of which was lacking the time (and stomach space) for Chuao Chocolatier.  Oh, well!  Next time!

Hearing the "Hallelujah Chorus" Ringing in My Ears

This month marks the anniversary of me and my two oldest friends on the planet.  I have known my friend, Bonnie, longer than any of my other friends, period.  At the time we met, we were the only girls our age in Truth Tabernacle, the church we both ended up being reared in and home to the school we both graduated from 14 years after we first met.  She is the "middle" friend of us three girls in age, and we've got many, many great memories.  Her and husband, Matt, have been married for 13 years this month.  My other friend, Amanda, I met a couple of years later.  Now there were three girls "our age" at Truth Tabernacle.  We all got on fabulously and Amanda lived with her family in my same neighborhood for years.  My big sis, Stacy, and I had lots of adventures with the Gregg kiddos growing up.  Amanda and husband, Erik, have been married for 15 years this month.  As life would turn out, I've been married the least amount of time of the 3 of us.  Twelve years tomorrow to Ralph, the most wonderful man on planet Earth.  We are also the only couple with a child.  One child.  Logan.  Our pride and joy!  We are so ecstatic to soon be joined in our adventures of parenting by another of my childhood friends!  Amanda and Erik are expecting a "mini-me" next Spring!  CONGRATULATIONS, you two!  We are very happy for you and your families!  And a big CONGRATULATIONS to Bonnie and Amanda for the many years of wedded bliss!  I love you girls and I honestly couldn't be more proud to have you both as my friends for life.  Whether you like it or not!  =D  Love you!  And LOVE YOU, RALPHIE!  You're the best thing that ever happened to me.  Thank you for loving me!

Holiday Cheer

Well, things have been quite busy around here, with company in and out and just Christmas "hectic-ness" period. Wow. I'm amazed I've had time to cram in a little reading, but I have been anxious to finish the series I am on. I hope that you all had a lovely Christmas. Mine was peachy. I had two early Christmas presents. First, Bonnie flew in to visit for a few days, we shopped, went to Disneyland, and otherwise chilled. Then, my (practically) sister, Candace flew in from MO to stay for a whole week! We also shopped, went to Disneyland, and otherwise chillaxed. Good times. Very good times. My grandparents came in on the 23rd and things have just not slowed down. Until today. Now, I write to you all to bring you good tidings of great joy. OK, it's not THAT great, but I figured I let you in on it, just in case you'd like the option. Starting January 1st, you can go to Disneyland for free on your birthday in 2009! You have to sign up on their website, but I think that's a pretty good deal. If you happen to have season passes, then they give you gift store credit or something like that comparable to a one-day ticket. You should all check it out! I'll be at DL on my birthday in a couple of weeks, working that credit! Woo-hoo! hehehe... I will try to be back around these parts more. The election really sucked the wind out of me, but I'm slowly but surely regaining my hold on terra firma. Be back soon! Peace out!

Rapid Weight Loss Report - Day 6

I had my first post-op visit today with the P.A., Allie. She's really nice and had the [dis]pleasure of removing my drainage tube. Yikes! You're about to FEEL some pressure... Yeah. There was pressure alright! HA! Actually, I feel LOTS better with it out. Learning my limits still though! (I almost fell out in the middle of Long's Drugs tonight...) It's really hard to get the nutrition I need to just be able to function properly and not feel like a starving person. Especially when the dreaded shakes taste like what I can only imagine parsnip juice prepared by the Grinch himself tastes like! Blech! So, she did give me some "doable" options to the shakes and I am oh, so grateful for that. I am sad, though, because tomorrow my friends are leaving me. Of course, they didn't HAVE to be here and I am SOOO blessed that they were here, but I'll miss them nevertheless! We've had a lot of memorable experiences in our lives as girlfriends since we were wee children, but this weekend probably takes the cake! hehehe... They're so FUN in they're own ways and I just love them both to pieces! BONNIE AND MANDA, I WILL MISS YOU!!!!! Well, I'm looking forward to finding sugar free Nesquick... Ciao!

Anniversaries Celebrated Disney Style!

Mouse-aholic

I had a great day at Disneyland yesterday with two VERY good, lifelong pals of mine! All of our husbands came along and since we all have anniversaries in August, we all got Happy Anniversary pins! It was great fun, until it came time for the fireworks. Or lack thereof. UGH! The show cancellation wouldn't have been so disappointing had we not been waiting for over 2 hours, had a FRONT row (or curb) seat, and had to listen to a unhappy child scream at the top of his lungs for the duration of the wait. Yikes. I think Matt was actually maddened. LOL This is a rare occurrence for the viewing public, as those who know him know. Ick! That was poorly worded. Oh, well! That may be the last time I go to Disneyland until after my surgery. I really wanted to have cotton candy, but it didn't sound as good as it usually does. Of course, I am really trying to lose those 10 pounds by surgery time! =D As for my illness, I am completely recovered, save a nagging cough, which I tend to have anyway! My eyes look normal and the only evidence of my having been sick is the scab from my fever blister. I'm so glad! Especially since that means I'll get to see my little Ella girl tomorrow!! We're picking her up in the afternoon and keeping her indefinitely! Yay! Little sweetie! I'll be back around later!

Thanks for Praying!

So, I threw a mini-fit to get in to see the specialist yesterday! And it worked! I was having so many different things going on that they were not wanting me to take any type of relief medications for, it was quite miserable!! Waiting to see the doctor who would decide if I could take said relief meds until Thursday was getting on my "nervous". (As Logan used to say when he was a little guy...) So, the cornea specialist walked in and took one look at me and said, "Wow! You've REALLY got red eyes!" Yeah, no kidding, Einstein. I guess his "specialty" is overstating the obvious. My eyes had already been dilated by the man-nurse I had and so the doc, (CAREFULLY CLEANING EVERYTHING WITH ALCOHOL!!! LOL) looked into my eyes. When the student doctor began to enter the room, he immediately dismissed him telling him, "This woman has a highly contagious virus, so you can't be in here." Okay... I've only been all over and haven't had any "victims" fall prey to my scary eyes, so whatever. So after the doctor dismissed my scandalously red eyes as severe, viral, bleeding pink eye, I was now able to take meds to relieve the other symptoms I had developed. Today, I write to you with an almost completely healed right eye - (Thank You, Jesus!) - and a left eye that has improved leaps and bounds. Thanks for your prayers and I'm looking forward to full recovery!

Batie

Katie, Katie, Katie... Wow. Do I ever have loads of memories with this girl. Most of them were made on the many BQ trips we took, literally all over the country. I came to love this girl and her parents, who were assistant coaches at the time. What wonderful times we had trying to kill time on the way to our tournaments. Heaven forbid we actually studied on the way and thankfully Russ didn't make us. Much. LOL One particularly memorable tournament was, (I think!) in Napa? It was Extravaganza time and there were lots of unfamiliar faces and teams. There were a couple of guys who were, uh, hmmm, "into" us? LOL!!! They were soooo distracting in our last quiz! We should have had that. Or maybe not. There these two goofballs sat, right in the front row, just STARING at us during the quiz. Looking back, I'm pretty sure they were just staring at YOU, but you were nice enough to make me feel "loved" with the attention. One of my very favorite games EVER was against Bakersfield in Chula Vista. Frankie contested question #18 or 19, something like that, and they deliberated for close to an hour. (I think it was denied...) We were so BORED up there and Russ was MAD that we didn't take it seriously. Having now coached a team of my own, I feel his pain. I could go on and on and on and ON, but I won't. Love you, girl, and glad we've got such wonderful memories!

My Penny-pinching Friend

I have known "SheGazelle" for EVER. We grew up together, sort of, kind of, but not really. LOL I'm a LITTLE older than her, but we have had many of the same experiences having been through the same rigors of life. She is someone with a great sense of style. I LOVE checking out her clothes, because she's always cutting edge, yet modest. Wonderful. Also, she cracks me up on a regular basis. She is quite hilarious and witty. She has some of the most beautiful skin. My WORD! NOT fair!!! hehehe... Most of my readers know her, but for those of you who don't, I'm so sorry I cannot reveal "SheGazelle's" true identity! I enjoy your blog SG! Chrissypoo, OUT!

Ms. Beethoven

I cannot remember the first time I met Von de Leigh. (It's been THAT long!!!! lol) I do remember seeing her at PSR, dressed to the 9's, with a pack of guys following her around! She is so beautiful and such a sweet person to boot! Whenever I email Von de Leigh or see her, she is just so nice and genuine. That's hard to find, even in Pentecost, unfortunately! We are also fellow musicians. I remember she played the piano at a mutual friend's wedding beautifully! Fur Elise, I think, but I'm really bad with the classical names! I am glad to count her as a friend and value her friendship!

My friend, Kari

I am doing something a little different for my next few blogs, pending any really important preempts, if there is any important news in McCorkle Land. I am going to write some brief essays on the people that I have put links to their blogs on my page. On. Boy, what an awful sentence! Oh, well! Stop analyzing and enjoy these walks down memory lane!

The first person listed on my page is Kari Morgan. I knew her, not so many years ago as Kari MAY Runner. Not that she's a different person now, we just go WAY back! I remember being at the Youth Convention where Kari first met Doug and they started dating then, I think! Before that, we went to T.T.C.S. together for a few years. We weren't in the same grade, but I was in the same grade as her younger brother, Joe. So, school days were pretty interesting and fun and crazy! LOTS of great times! We also used to attend Section 7 Youth Camp together, though we were hardly ever in the same cabin because she is LOTS older than me. HA! JK!!! There was one time I'm sure she remembers vividly, that we were up at said camp and I was attacked by a swarm of meat bees. Ouch! That was a rough day. LOL So, to say the least, I have a lot of wonderful memories with Kari and she still makes me LAUGH every time we speak and/or chat. She is an awesome person to know and I'm glad that I do.